Verbascum plant named ‘Jackie in Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Verbascum,  ‘Jackie in Pink’, characterized by its pale pink flowers, pubescent grey-green foliage, its compact growth habit, and long blooming habit.

Botanical classification: Verbascum hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Jackie In Pink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hybridVerbascum plant, botanically known as Verbascum ‘Jackie in Pink’ andwill be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Jackie in Pink’.The new cultivar represents a new Mullein, an herbaceous perennial grownfor landscape use.

The inventor discovered the new cultivar, ‘Jackie in Pink’, in acultivated growing area at his nursery in Valkenburg, The Netherlands inthe summer of 2001. ‘Jackie in Pink’ originated as a naturally occurringwhole plant mutation of Verbascum ‘Jackie’ (unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by invitro propagation in Rijswijk, The Netherlands in September of 2002under the direction of the inventor. The characteristics of thiscultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Jackie in Pink’ from other varieties of Verbascum known tothe inventor.

-   -   1. Pale pink flowers with red-purple centers.    -   2. Exhibits grey-green foliage with a pronounced pubescent        surface imparting a silvery appearance.    -   3. Reaches a compact height of 40 cm and a spread of about 30 cm        at maturity.    -   4. Long blooming; blooms from June to September in temperate        climates.        ‘Jackie in Pink’ differs from the parent plant, ‘Jackie’,        primarily in flower color as the flowers of ‘Jackie’ are light        orange-pink in color. ‘Jackie in Pink’ can be compared to the        cultivar ‘Rosie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,167). Side-by side        comparison trials in Valkenburg, The Netherlands, indicated that        the flowers of ‘Jackie in Pink’ are lighter pink in color, the        foliage of ‘Jackie in Pink’ is more pubescent, and the growth        habit of ‘Jackie in Pink’ is more compact (less spreading).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Verbascum.

The photograph in FIG. One is a view of a plant of ‘Jackie in Pink’ inbloom in September as grown in a one-gallon container.

The photograph in FIG. Two is of a close-up view of the flowers of‘Jackie in Pink’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew Verbascum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 12 month old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in Plymouth, Minn. in one-galloncontainers. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Jackie in Pink’ is a cultivar of    Verbascum of hybrid origin.-   Parentage: Naturally occurring whole plant mutation of Verbascum    ‘Jackie’ (not-patented).-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—June through September in temperate            climates.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial. Clump-forming, upright            flower scapes arise from a rosette of basal foliage.            Moderate growth rate.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 30 cm in width and about 40            cm in height.        -   Hardiness.—Zone 5-9.        -   Culture.—Grows best in full sun in alkaline, very            well-drained soils of low fertility.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed for ‘Jackie in Pink’.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation is the preferred method,            division are also possible.        -   Time required for root development.—8 weeks to fully develop            in a 32 cell in soil-less media when grown at 70-80° F. in a            greenhouse without supplemental lighting from a rooted            plantlet from tissue culture. A 32 cell plug will fully            develop in a one gallon container grown outdoors under            natural lighting. Fall, winter and spring are preferred for            root development.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—About 1.5 to 3.0 cm in length, 3 to 5 mm in            width. Appearance is stemless as foliage is arranged in a            basal rosette on short, branchless stems.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—N144D.        -   Stem surface.—Villous.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate, mature leaves are extended by a narrow            region that is attached to the stem.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate pattern, color N144D on upper and            lower surface, raised on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Crenate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal foliage: rosette, flower scapes:            alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower: pubescent.        -   Leaf color.—Immature and mature: upper; 138A, lower; 138B.        -   Leaf size.—Up to about 7 cm in length, up to about 3 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—About 10 to 12 per shoot including rosette            and scape leaves.        -   Petiole length.—2 cm.        -   Petiole width.—About 3 mm.        -   Petiole color.—N44D.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Racemes on flower scapes arising from            basal foliage.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 10 days after the first            bloom opens. Self-cleaning.        -   Flower size.—About 1.2 to 2 cm in depth and about 3 to 4 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower number.—About 40 on primary scapes, about 20 on            secondary scapes.        -   Peduncle size.—Up to 35 cm in length, 1.5 to 5 mm in width.            Secondary branches (1 to 4), up to 25 cm in length, 1.5 to            2.5 mm in width.        -   Peduncle shape.—Round.        -   Peduncle color.—144A.        -   Peduncle surface.—Villous on basal region becoming glabrous            towards apex.        -   Peduncle internodes.—5 mm to 2 cm.        -   Pedicel bract.—About 5 mm in length, 1 to 1.5 mm in width,            143A in color.        -   Pedicel size.—About 0.75 to 1 cm in length, about 1 mm in            width. Secondary branches (1 to 4 in number), up to 25 cm in            length, 1.5 to 2.5 mm in width.        -   Pedicel shape.—Round.        -   Pedicel color.—144A.        -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.        -   Flower bud size.—Up to 0.5 cm in length, up to 1 cm in            width.        -   Flower bud color.—14D, turning to 70D prior to opening.        -   Flower bud shape.—Globular.        -   Flower type.—Rotate, symmetrical, perfect, outward facing.        -   Calyx form.—Deeply 5 parted, sepals united at base and            spreading when flower opens.        -   Calyx size.—About 7 mm in length, 2 mm at base and 1 cm at            apex in width when flower opens.        -   Calyx color.—143A.        -   Calyx surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Sepal number.—5.        -   Sepal size.—About 7 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width            attenuating to apex.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Sepal color.—143A.        -   Corolla features.—Petals distinct but fused at base to a            short tube, 5 mm in length, 144D in color, petals overlap            near the proximal region, petals broadly flaring with            reflexed edges creating a wavy appearance.        -   Petal number.—5.        -   Petal size.—About 1.5 cm in length, 1.2 cm in width.        -   Petal shape.—Orbicular.        -   Petal color.—Opening: 69B on upper surface and 69C on lower            surface, both overlaid with 70D and with markings in center            region N79D Fully open: 69D to slightly lighter than 69D on            upper and lower surface with markings in center region N79D.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petal margins.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, 9 mm in length, 1 mm in width; style is            166C in color; stigma flattened, 2-valved, 144B in color,            0.7 mm in length and width; Ovary is superior, 144B in            color, 1.2 mm in length and 2 mm in width.        -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, epipetalous, 2 mm in length and 7            mm in width, filament is 22A in color, covered with showy            bristles and N79D in color, pollen is abundant and 25A in            color.        -   Fruit.—Septicidal capsule, 3 septum, longitudinally ridged,            4 mm in length, 2.5 mm in width, 146C in color, no seeds            observed (empty capsules).

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbascum plant named ‘Jackie In Pink’as herein illustrated and described.